Our Clio has a key operated switch to turn off the front airbag, but the Freelander (certainly the pre-facelift one) can't be done.
We're about 6 weeks away from being able to fill a baby seat for the first time, so I don't speak from experience, but the brother-in-law reckons that they're too much of a distraction if they're in the front with you.
You can get a mirror which attaches to the rear head restraint so you can see the baby's face in your rear view mirror if this helps.
I won't be putting the child seat in the front - even in the Clio where I could do.
Cheers
Ben